The
International Hydrographic OrganizationInternational Hydrographic Organization (IHO) is the
inter-governmental organisation representing hydrography.
A principal aim of the IHO is to ensure that the world’s seas,
oceans and navigable waters are properly surveyed and charted. It does
this through the setting of international standards, the co-ordination
of the endeavours of the world's national hydrographic offices, and
through its capacity building programme.
The IHO enjoys observer status at the
United NationsUnited Nations where it is the
recognised competent authority on hydrographic surveying and nautical
charting. When referring to hydrography and nautical charting in
Conventions and similar Instruments, it is the IHO standards and
specifications that are normally used.

History[edit]
The IHO was established in 1921 as the International Hydrographic
Bureau (IHB). The present name was adopted in 1970 as part of a new
international Convention on the IHO adopted by the then member
nations. The former name International Hydrographic Bureau was
retained to describe the IHO secretariat until 8 November 2016, when a
revision to the Convention on the IHO entered into force. Thereafter
the IHB became known as the "IHO Secretariat", comprising an elected
Secretary-General and two supporting Directors, together with a small
staff of 17, at the Organization's headquarters in Monaco.
During the 19th century, many maritime nations established
hydrographic offices to provide means for improving the navigation of
naval and merchant vessels by providing nautical publications,
nautical charts, and other navigational services. There were
substantial differences in hydrographic procedures charts, and
publications. In 1889, an International Maritime Conference was held
at Washington, D.C., and it was proposed to establish a "permanent
international commission." Similar proposals were made at the sessions
of the International Congress of
NavigationNavigation held at Saint Petersburg
in 1908 and the International Maritime Conference held at Saint
Petersburg in 1912.
In 1919 the hydrographers of Great Britain and
FranceFrance cooperated in
taking the necessary steps to convene an international conference of
hydrographers. London was selected as the most suitable place for this
conference, and on 24 July 1919, the First International Conference
opened, attended by the hydrographers of 24 nations. The object of the
conference was "To consider the advisability of all maritime nations
adopting similar methods in preparation, construction, and production
of their charts and all hydrographic publications; of rendering the
results in the most convenient form to enable them to be readily used;
of instituting a prompt system of mutual exchange of hydrographic
information between all countries; and of providing an opportunity to
consultations and discussions to be carried out on hydrographic
subjects generally by the hydrographic experts of the world." This is
still the major purpose of the IHO.
As a result of the Conference, a permanent organization was formed and
statutes for its operations were prepared. The IHB, now the IHO, began
its activities in 1921 with 18 nations as members. The Principality of
MonacoMonaco was selected as the seat of the organization as a result of the
offer of Albert I, Prince of
MonacoMonaco to provide suitable accommodation
for the Bureau in the principality.
Functions[edit]
The IHO develops hydrographic and nautical charting standards. These
standards are subsequently adopted and used by its 87 member countries
and others in their surveys, nautical charts, and publications. The
almost universal use of the IHO standards means that the products and
services provided by the world's national hydrographic and
oceanographic offices are consistent and recognisable by all seafarers
and for other users. Much has been done in the field of
standardisation since the Bureau (now the IHO) was founded.
The IHO has encouraged the formation of Regional Hydrographic
Commissions (RHCs). Each RHC coordinates the national surveying and
charting activities of countries within each region and acts as a
forum to address other matters of common hydrographic interest. The 15
RHCs plus the IHO Hydrographic Commission on Antarctica (HCA)
effectively cover the world.
The IHO, in partnership with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission (IOC), directs the General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans
programme.
Publications[edit]
Most IHO publications, including the standards, guidelines and
associated documents such as the International Hydrographic Review,
International Hydrographic Bulletin, the Hydrographic Dictionary and
the Year Book are available to the general public free of charge from
the IHO website.
The IHO publishes the international standards related to charting and
hydrography, including S-57, IHO Transfer Standard for Digital
Hydrographic Data, the encoding standard that is used primarily for
electronic navigational charts. In 2010 the IHO introduced a new,
contemporary hydrographic geospatial standard for modelling marine
data and information, known as S-100. S-100 and any dependent product
specifications are underpinned by an on-line registry accessible via
the IHO website. S-100 is aligned with the
ISO 19100ISO 19100 series of
geographic standards, thereby making it fully compatible with
contemporary geospatial data standards. Because S-100 is based on ISO
19100, it can be used by other data providers for their
maritime-related (non-hydrographic) data and information. Various data
and information providers from both the government and private sector
are now using S-100 as part of the implementation of the e-Navigation
concept that has been endorsed by the UN International Maritime
Organisation.
Meetings[edit]
The IHO maintains a programme of the meetings of its Council,
committees and working groups around the world. The meetings and the
meetings of other related International Organisations are promulgated
in the calendar on the IHO website.[1]
Member countries[edit]
Main article: List of Members of the International Hydrographic
Organization
The following countries are members of the IHO: